Pelican Beach Resort South Water Caye is a simple, solar-powered cottage resort on one of Belize's smallest and most beautiful reef islands. If your idea of a honeymoon is wading off the beach with a mask and finding yourself over living coral within minutes, this is one of the few places in the Caribbean where that is a daily routine.
The resort occupies about three and a half acres of South Water Caye, a sliver of sand and palms inside the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. The island sits right on the Belize Barrier Reef, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, roughly 14 miles off the mainland town of Dangriga. There are no roads, cars or shops. Days follow the rhythm of meals, snorkel trips and hammocks.
The accommodation is comfortable rather than luxurious: wooden cottages and rooms with porches, hot and cold showers and furniture built for practicality. Everything runs on solar power. Packages include all meals, round-trip boat transfers from Dangriga, the marine reserve fee and guided snorkel boat trips, so once you arrive there is little left to pay for. Couples who want plunge pools, a spa or air-conditioned suites should look elsewhere. Couples who want the reef on their doorstep and very few other people will love it.
Highlights at a glance
- Snorkeling straight off the beach on the Belize Barrier Reef
- Inside the South Water Caye Marine Reserve
- Packages include meals, boat transfers and guided snorkel trips
- Solar-powered cottages with sea-facing porches
- No roads or cars on the island
Why Couples Choose South Water Caye
The reef is the reason. On most Caribbean islands, the barrier reef is a boat ride away. Here, it is a short swim. The reef crest breaks the swell on the island's east side, while the west side has calm, clear shallows for beginners.
The island is tiny and you can walk around it in well under an hour. A handful of small lodges share it with a few research facilities. Frigatebirds wheel over neighboring Man-O-War Caye and the nights are dark enough for serious stargazing.
For a honeymoon, that simplicity is a gift. With no cars, no nightlife and few distractions, the days slow down quickly. Couples who love the water often say a few nights here were the highlight of their whole trip, especially when combined with a jungle lodge or a more polished beach resort on the mainland.
Cottages and Rooms to Book
Pelican Beach offers four kinds of accommodation, all solar powered with full baths, hot and cold showers and porches placed to catch the trade winds.
- Private Cottages, such as Herons Hideaway and Kingfisher Cottage, are standalone units spaced apart for privacy and close to the beach. These are the honeymoon choice.
- Reef View Duplex units, the Ospreys Nest North and South, sit a few steps from the sand facing the reef crest. The resort calls them its best sellers.
- Sandpiper Suites, a family duplex tucked among trees, suit groups.
- Reef Crest Rooms, Brown Booby and Pelicans Pouch, are bright rooms above the main lodge or among the mangroves and they are the least expensive option.
Ask about air conditioning and power when you book, since amenities on small solar islands vary.
Meals and Drinks
Meals are set menus prepared daily by the resort's chefs, which keeps things simple on a small island. Breakfast brings coffee, tea, fresh juice and tropical fruit, along with eggs, bacon, fry jacks, johnny cakes, omelettes and pancakes.
Lunch is light: fish or chicken tacos, rice and beans, pasta, burgers or quesadillas. The local favorite is hudut, a Garifuna fish stew in coconut sauce served with mashed plantain and it is worth asking for at least once.
Dinner is three courses, with dishes like mango-glazed pork and Maya Papaya fish, a fillet sautéed in a spicy sauce, followed by homemade desserts. The bar is open daily for tropical drinks with views of the waves and the sunset. Drinks are generally paid separately, so check what your package covers. Tell the resort about any dietary needs when you book.
Why guests fall for it
Snorkeling, Diving and Things to Do
Snorkeling straight off the beach is the main event, with coral gardens and reef fish just offshore. Every package includes at least one guided snorkel boat trip, with gear provided and longer stays include more. Trips visit nearby patch reefs and cayes, where you may see rays, turtles and nurse sharks.
Divers can reach the drop-off of the outer wall in a short boat ride. Ask about diving when you book, since it is arranged separately.
Other activities include kayaking around the island and toward the mangroves of the Pelican Cayes, fishing, bird watching and beach volleyball. Or simply claim a hammock. The Reef and Rainforest package adds three mainland tours and a cultural performance, which is a good way to see Garifuna culture in Dangriga and the jungle without booking a separate lodge.
Getting There
Fly into Belize City (BZE), then take a short domestic flight to Dangriga (DGA). Pelican Beach has a sister hotel in Dangriga, on the coast in a town known for Garifuna art, music and food. Boat transfers from Dangriga to South Water Caye take about 40 minutes and are included in all packages.
The boat ride can be bumpy when the wind is up, so keep cameras and phones in a dry bag. Pack light, in soft luggage and bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and a light rain jacket.
Many couples add a night at the Dangriga hotel before or after the island to avoid tight flight connections. There is no transport on the island itself and you will not need any.
Is It Worth It?
Pelican Beach South Water Caye is not a luxury resort and its packages are not cheap once you look at the nightly figure. A three-night package for two in a Private Cottage costs about $2,720, with lower rates for Reef Crest Rooms. What you are paying for is the location, which is among the best in the Caribbean for snorkeling, along with meals, transfers and guided boat trips.
For couples who love the sea, that trade is worth it. For couples who want air-conditioned suites, a spa or fine dining, it will feel basic and Ambergris Caye or Placencia would suit better. Mosquitoes and sand flies can be active; pack repellent. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Belize. Book early for the dry season, since the island has very few rooms.
Insider tips
- Book a Private Cottage, Herons Hideaway or Kingfisher, for the most privacy.
- Choose a package of five nights or more to get three or more guided snorkel trips.
- Ask for hudut, the Garifuna coconut fish stew.
- Pack a dry bag for the boat ride from Dangriga.
